Extensible buckle



Dec. 25, 1934. E. PRE5T|NAR| 1,985,835

EXTENS IBLE BUCKLE Filed Feb.I 16, 1952 p nnunnunmllllld. I

' mumunmui 'y A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE Ex'rENsmLE BUCKLE Application February 16, 1932, Serial No. 593,292

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an extensible buckle, and has for its object to provide a construction which may be readily adjusted to different sizes even whenin position on the arm.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction which will permit of adjustment to different sizes while the buckle is in folded position upon the arm.

Another object of theinvention is the provision of a construction of folding parts which will have a relative adjustment as to size such that it will be maintained regardless of the foldingor unfolding of the different partsor sections.

y With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the buckle with chain links attached to either end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the buckle as swung to open position looking at the under side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the U shaped link.

Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the sections `having a part broken away to show the same in central section with the relatively slidable members and illustrating the relation of these members when in locked position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig, 4 showing the members with the finger pieces compressed to permit relative movement of the members.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view'on line 6--6 of Fig. 4. Fig. '7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail of a modified form of latch for engaging the rack shown in the above mentioned views.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of extension buckle in which the slots in the edge are plain on both edges rather than provided with rack teeth. 4

Fig. 10 shows one of the sections of this modified construction as provided with rack teeth formed on the opposite edges of the cut-out portion.

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 9.

Fig, 12 is a perspective view of the relative slidable part of the outer channel section.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view on two of the sections showing the relation of the U shaped `latch member and the section provided with rack teeth.

In the use of bracelets which have buckles with sections foldable one over the other, it is frequently desirable to provide for an adjustment of the .be readily obtained by relative pressure on the contracted encircling size of the bracelet and in order that this may be easily accomplished, I have provided a construction by which the adjustment may be obtained after the buckle is in folded position which permits the size to be more 5 accurately determined. Also the adjustment is maintained even though the device is unfolded for removing the bracelet from the arm and provision is also made so. that the adjustment may 10 two adjusting parts to move them to contract the encircling size of the bracelet; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, 15 designates one bracelet end link and 16 another end link, which links are attached to opposite ends of the extension buckle, designated generally 17, to mount the same between the two parts of the chain. This buckle consists of sections designated generally 19 and 20 which are hinged together and hingedly connected to a housing link generally indicated at 18 thus being capable of folding into a nested position within the housing link.

Housing link 18 is generally channel shape in cross-section and is provided with a top wall 21, side walls 22 and inturned anges 23 providing a space between the flanges and the top wall for slidably receiving the U shaped link 24 having arms 25 and 26 joined at one end by a member 27 and leaving the other ends compressible toward each other by the means o f the finger pieces 28.

The side walls 22 are provided with slots 29 in the opposite side walls and along one edge of each slot there are arranged a series of ratchet teeth 30. The finger pieces 28 extend through the opposite slots 29 and pawl members 31 are formed on the arms 25 and 26 adjacent their ends to engage the teeth 30 when the arms are in their normal position. These pawls 31 are shorter than the finger pieces leaving a space 32 betweenthe ends ofthe pawls 31 and the end portions of the finger pieces 28 so that when these arms are com- `pressed the pawls are withdrawn from the teeth 30 and the spaces 32 come opposite the teeth 30 and permit sliding movement of this U shaped link relative to the housing link regardless of whether the sections are in folded or unfolded position.

In folded position, section 19 lies within section 20 and both of these sections lie between the Apieces In some instances, however, it may be desirable to provide a pawl as designated at 33, in Fig. 8, with the inclined surfaces on one edge and a right angular abutment along its opposite edge so that the relative pressure between the housing link and the U shaped link of one endsection will y permit of relative sliding movement by reason of the resiliency oi they arms permitting them to spring inwardly and carry these inclined pawls from one tooth to another to permit of a ratchet adjustment in one direction although requiring pressure inwardly of the finger pieces to release the pawl for movement in the opopsite direction.

In order to hold the sections in folded position, I have provided detents 34 on the section 20vto snap beneath the edge fianges 23 and also provide latches 35 along another portion of this section adjacent the end thereof on the strap 36 to also snap beneath the edge flanges at another point to retain these sections in folded position.

By the arrangement above described the adjustment is maintained regardless of whether or not the device is in open or closed position as the latches are so arranged as to continually engage the rack. I

In some instances, however, it is desirable to provide a construction in which the adjustment is released upon unfolding of the section and in order to provide for this I have formed the rack teeth as illustrated in Fig. 10 on one section 37, which is hinged to section 38, and in the channel 39 of this section is mounted the relatively slidable .U shaped member 40. Section 37 is cut out' as at v41 and provided with rack teeth 42 along either side edge of the opening, while the U shaped slide member is mounted as above described, with its finger pieces 44 extending through slots 43. The latches 45 are arranged on the ends of portions 46 projecting inwardly from the arms 47 of this U member to engage the teeth 42 in the section 37. The arrangement is such that adjustment may be had in folded position when the section 37 lies along beneathfthe-sectioS', but upon unfolding of the sections 37 and 38 the rack is withdrawn from the teeth 42 and free adjustment may be had whether the finger pieces 44 are compressed or not.

A i'lnger piece 48 is provided on the end of the channel'section which permits it to be lifted re1- ative to the end section 20 to which the link 16 is attached for unfolding of the sections. It will be understood that the link 15 is secured to the U shaped sliding Vmember of the end section by means of an eye 49 secured to the part which forms a bridge between the two resilient relatively movable arms which carry the latches for adjustment of this member.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. In an extension buckle, in combination, -a housing link, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and to one end of said housing link and adapted to fold down upon said housing link into a nested position, said housing link including a top portion, longitudinal side walls and portions extending inwardly toward each other from said side walls to form longitudinal channels in said housing link, a U-shaped link having its legs slidably retained within said channels and resting upon the side walls of said housing link, thezclosed end of said U-s'haped link being adjacent the end of said housing link opposite the end to which said parts are connected, one of the side walls of said housing link having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a finger piece connected to one of the legs of said U-shaped link and extending laterally through said slot to a point, beyond the outer surface of said side wall of said housing link and adapted to move said leg of said U-shaped link inwardly away from said side wall of said housing link when pressure is applied thereto, and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along said side wall of said housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, said leg of said .U-shaped link having a portion protruding toward said side wall to form a pawl member in engagement with said teeth, whereby pressure upon said finger piece moves said pawl member out of engagement with said teeth to allow said U-shaped link member to slide freely in either direction along said housing member.

2. In an extension buckle, in combination, a housing link, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and to one end of said housing link and adapted to fold down upon said housing link into a nested position, said housing link including a top portion, longitudinal side walls and portions extending inwardly toward each other from said side walls to form longitudinal channels along the side walls of said housing link, a U-shaped link having its legs slidably retained within said channels, the closed end of said U-shaped link being adjacent the end of said housing link opposite the end to which said parts are connected, one of the side walls of said housing link having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a finger piece connected to one of the legs of said .U-shaped link and extending laterally through said slot to a point beyond the outersurface of said side wall of said housing link and' adapted to move said leg of said U- shaped link inwardly away from said side wall when pressure is applied thereto, and a plurality of longitudinally disposed ratchet teeth formed along said side wall of said housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, said leg of said U-shaped link having a portion protruding toward said side wall to form a pawl member in engagement with said teeth, said pawl member and said ratchet teeth being so formed as to allow said U-shaped link to slide inwardly but to prevent outward sliding of said v U-shaped link until pressure is applied to said finger piece.

3. In an extension buckle, in combination, a housing link, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and to one end of said housing link and adapted to fold down upon said housing link into a nested position, said housing link including a top portion, longitudinal side walls and portions extending inwardly toward each other from said side walls to form longitudinal channels in said housing link, a U-shaped link having its legs slidably retained within said channels, the closed end of said U-shaped link being adjacent the end of said housing link opposite the end to which said parts are connected,

one of the side walls of said housing link having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a finger piece connected substantially at the end portion of one of the legs of said U-shapedl link and extending laterally through said slot to a point beyond the outer surface of said side wall of said housing link and adapted to move said leg of said U-shaped link inwardly away from the wall of said housing link when pressure is applied thereto, and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along said side wall of said housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, said leg of said U-shaped link having a portionprotruding toward said side wall to form a pawl member in engagement with said teeth, said pawl member sloping in a direction toward the front end of said U-shaped link to allow said pawl member to slide over said ratchet teeth when said U-shaped link is moved inwardly and to prevent relative movement therebetween if said U-shapedlink is moved in an outward direction until pressure is applied to said finger piece.

4. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion, longitudinal side walls, and portions extending inwardly toward each other to form longitudinal channels in said housing link, a U-shaped link slidably mounted within said channels of said housing link 'so that the closed end thereof is adjacent one end of said housing link, a plurality oflink parts hingedly connected to each other and to the other -end of said housing link and adapted to fold into a nested position within said housing link between said inwardly extending portions thereof and between the legs of said U-shaped link,r a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along one side wall of said housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, a portion of the leg of said U-shaped link adjacent said teeth protruding toward said teeth to form a pawl member interengaging with said teeth, and means adapted to move said leg of said U-shaped member laterally to move said pawl member out of engagement with said teeth.

5. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link having a top portion, longitudinal side walls, and portions extending inwardly toward each other to form longitudinal channels in said housing link, a U-shaped link slidably mounted within said channels of said housing link so that the closed end thereof is adjacent one end of said housing link, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and to the other end of said housing link and adapted to fold into a nested position Within said housing link betwen said inwardly extending portions thereof and between the legs of said U-shaped link, a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along one side wall of said housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, a portion of the leg of said U-shaped link adjacent said teeth protruding toward said teeth to form a pawl member interengaging with said teeth, said teeth and said pawl member being so shaped as to allow movement of said U-shaped link in an inward direction and to prevent movement thereof in an outward or extended direction.

6. In an extensible` buckle, in combination, a.

housing link having a top portion, longitudinal parts hingedly connected to each other and to the other end of said housing link and adapted to fold into a nested position within said housing link between said inwardly extending portions thereof and between the legs of said U-shaped link, a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along one side wall of said housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, said side wall of said housing link having `a longitudinal slot formed therein, and a finger piece connected' to the leg portion of said U-shaped memberadjacent said side wall extending laterally through said slot to a point spaced from said side wall, said leg having a protruding portion forming a pawl member intereng'aging with said teeth and adapted to move out of contact therewith when pressure is applied to said finger piece.

'7. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing' link having a top portion, longitudinal side walls, and portions extending inwardly toward each other to form longitudinal channels in said housing link, a U-shaped link slidably mounted within said channels of said housing link so ,that the closed end thereof is adjacent one end of said housing link, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and to the other end of said housing link andA adapted to fold into a nested position within said housing link between said inwardly extending portions thereof and be'- tween the legs of said U-shaped link, a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along one side wall ofsaid housing link and longitudinally disposed with respect thereto, said side wall of said housing link having a longitudinal slot formed therein, and a finger piece connected to the leg portion of said U-shaped member adjacent said side wall extending laterally through said slot to a point spaced from said side wall, said leg having a protruding portion forming a pawl member interengaging with said teeth and adapted to move out of contact therewith when pressure is applied to said finger piece', said ratchet teeth and said pawl member being so shaped as to allow inward movement of said U-shaped link and prevent outward or extended movement thereof.

8. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member having a substantially flat top and portions along the longitudinal sides thereof and extending below said top, a sliding link member slidably retained within said housing link member and having its longitudinal edge portions in substantial engagement with said side portions of said housing link member so that it may be extended and contracted with respect to said housing link member, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other, one of said link parts being hingedly connected to one end of said housing link member and independent of said sliding link member, said link parts being shaped to fold into a nested position so that the longitudinal edge portions of the link part which is furthest from said housing link member when said link parts are unfolded are in engagement with said longitudinal side portions of said housing link member, catch' means' disposed between said longitudinal edges of said last-mentioned link part and said side portions of said housing link member, a section of one of said members having a plurality of ratchet teeth formed thereon, a catch section secured to the other of said membersto engage said teeth, one of said sections being movable independently of the extending and contracting movement of said sliding link member to engage and disengage said teeth and said catch section, and a fingerpiece secured to said movable section and extending through one of said side portions of said housing link member.

9. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link member having a top portion, longitudinal side walls and portions extending i n wardly toward each other frommsaid side walls to form longitudinal channels, a'isliding link mem' ber slidably retained within said housing link member and having its longitudinal edge portions fltting within said channels adjacent said side walls of said housing link member so that it may be extended and contracted with respect to said housing link member, a plurality of link parts hingedly connected to each other and hingedly connected to one end of said housing link member and independent of said sliding link member and shaped to fold into a nested position between said inwardly extending portions of said housing link member, a section of one of said members having a plurality of ratchet teeth formed thereon, a catch section secured to the other of said members to engage said teeth, one of said sections being'movable independently of the extending and contracting movement of said sliding link member to engage and disengage said teeth and said catch sectionand a ngerpiece secured to said movable section and extending outwardly to a point beyond one of said side walls.

10. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link part having a top portion, longitudinal side walls and portions extending inwardly toward each other from said side walls to form longitudinal channels, a sliding link member having its longitudinal edges disposed within said channels and adapted to be extended and contracted with respect to said housing link part, a part connected to said sliding link member and adapted to move relative to said housing link part independently of the extending and contracting movement of said sliding link member, a fingerpiece connected to said part on said sliding link member and extending through one o! said side walls, a plurality of links hingedly connected to each other and hingedly connected to one end of said housing link part and independent of said sliding link member and shaped to fold into a nested position between said inwardly extending portions of said housing link part, a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along one of said parts, and a catch portion on the other of said parts adapted to engage said teeth.

11. In an extensible buckle, in combination, a housing link part having a top portion, longitudinal side walls and portions extending inwardly Atoward each other from said side walls to form longitudinal channels, a sliding link member having its longitudinal edges disposed within said channels and adapted to be extended and contracted with respect to said housing link part, a part connected to said sliding link member and adapted to move relative to said housing link part independently of the extending and contracting movement of said sliding link member, the movement of said part on said sliding link member being substantially in a horizontal plane or in directions toward and away from said side walls, a ngerpiece connected to said last-mentioned part and extending outwardly beyond one of said side walls, a plurality of links hingedly connected to each other and hingedly connected to one end of said housing link part and independent of said sliding link member and shaped to fold into a nested position between said inwardly extending portions of said housing link part, a plurality of ratchet teeth formed along one of said parts, and a catch portion on the other of said parts adapted to engage said teeth. Y

EUGEN PRESTINARI. 

